Abura-sumashi

Abura-sumashi (油すまし, "Oil Presser") is a creature from the folklore^{[citation needed]} of Amakusa in Kumamoto prefecture.^{[citation needed]} This spirit, which surprises people on the Kusazumigoe mountain pass,^{[citation needed]} is thought to be the ghost of a human who stole oil.^{[citation needed]}

In the days before electricity, oil was a very valuable commodity, necessary for lighting and heating a house. As such, the theft of oil, particularly from temples and shrines, could lead to punishment via reincarnation as a yōkai.^{[citation needed]}

In modern media the abura-sumashi is often depicted as, "a squat creature with a straw-coat covered body and a potato-like or stony head,"^{[citation needed]} an appearance inspired by the artwork of Shigeru Mizuki.^{[citation needed]}

References

• "Aburasumashi". The Obakemono Project. http://www.obakemono.com/obake/aburasumashi/. Retrieved February 21, 2006. 
• "Aburasumashi". Kaii-Yōkai Denshō Database. http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/YoukaiCard/2180763.shtml. Retrieved October 10, 2006. 
• "Sumoto-town (Home of Aburasumashi-don)". asahi.com. http://mytown.asahi.com/kumamoto/news.php?k_id=44000169999990192. Retrieved October 16, 2006.